It's no secret that the Bengals are in need of a guard and it's also no secret that there are a couple of really good guards that could make their way to free agency starting on March 13. One of those guards is Carl Nicks of the New Orleans Saints. Nicks is largely considered the best guard that could hit free agency and it has been thought that his chances of moving to another team could be fairly high considering that the team's most important free agent to re-sign is Drew Brees.
There has been a lot of talk about the Bengals, due to the large amount of money that they have to spend, could make a move for Nicks. However, according to Pro Football Talk's Gregg Rosenthal, Nicks could receive the franchise tag from the Saints if a deal with Brees is struck in time.
If the deal comes in time for the Saints to avoid using the tag on Brees, the Saints will have the flexibility to retain either guard Carl Nicks or wide receiver Marques Colston with the one-year tag.
Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reports that Nicks is first in line. That decision makes sense because Nicks is a first team All Pro guard and Colston isn't quite that elite a wide receiver.
If the team can get Brees signed to a long-term deal before the period ends in which a team can use their franchise tag, they'll likely keep Nicks around. However, if that doesn't happen, the Saints will use their tag on Brees and they may not be able to keep Nicks around.
Now whether or not he'll end up as a Cincinnati Bengal is a whole other story. Nicks will cost quite a bit of money and even though the Bengals have money to spend, they may not be willing to part with it. Also, keep in mind that if the Saints do keep Nicks and Brees, that likely means that Marques Colston is as good as gone. The Bengals do need a wide receiver and Colston has shown us that he can be a solid No. 1 guy and a great No. 2.
Teams are able to apply the franchise tag to a player until March 5 and free agency doesn't open until March 13, so we'll have a good idea of who is going to be on the market and who won't before free agency actually opens.
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0 recs | 19 comments
i think Brees and his agent don't get the deal done in time to have leverage.
AMAS85 - February 21, 2012
I sure hope not.......doesn't give them a lot of time.
The Van Buren Boys - February 21, 2012
that the point
we don’t want them to sign nicks
AMAS85 - February 21, 2012
"I sure hope not"......."doesn't give them a lot of time" = Want Brees to drag out, want Nicks to hit FA market.
Nicks should be/is our #1 draft priority, obviously we don’t want them to sign Nicks. From what I keep hearing Brees is far away from signing.
The Van Buren Boys - February 21, 2012
ohhhho ok I see what your saying, i just took your comment the wrong way. I thought your were saying you "hope not" to what I was saying...
AMAS85 - February 21, 2012
It's cool, didn't want you to get the wrong idea. I am "pro" Nicks all the way!
The Van Buren Boys - February 21, 2012
"pro" Nicks for PROtection
i like it lol!
AMAS85 - February 21, 2012
I read that the tag amount wont be known till late March or early April for QB's
so that means Brees waits. I can’t remember the details of that story though.
Carl Nicks can’t be a serious Cincy Bengals priority. For one they can get starting guards in the draft anywhere from the first round to third….its a deep Oline draft and two drafted guards will cost far less than 1 Carl Nicks.
What they can’t assume they will get in the draft is a number 1 CB. There may be no more than 3 first round CB’s in this draft and by #17, all could be gone. The Bengals need to use a chunk on a good starting CB. Finnegan, Carr or Carlos Rodgers would be pretty good in stripes. Then keep looking in FA for a #3 CB.
BENGALS69 - February 21, 2012
im sure we sign a FA CB that is good enough to start but is used for depth
I.E. pacman would be good to resign for another couple of years. And we can get that corner we are looking for with in the first two rounds of the draft.
I think we save the big money for that FA OG. It will be well worth it!
AMAS85 - February 21, 2012
All you pro Nicks got it wrong
There is a glut of quality guards in the draft + FA. There is maybe 3 CB’s that are first rounders plus 3 number 1 CB’s in FA. If the Bengals miss out in getting a number 1 CB in FA they risk not getting any good to very good CB’s by the end of the draft.
I think there is a 30% chance MB springs a 50 million deal for Finnegan or maybe 30 million for Carr. There is no chance he does that plus Nicks.
BENGALS69 - February 21, 2012
well i think the reasoning is
to spend the bulk of our money on proven lineman and build our skilled position players through the draft.
instead of speading our money on skilled players OTHER teams had drafted. Build your team the draft is the a name of the game.
AMAS85 - February 21, 2012
Well makes sense to me
and spending on Finnegan or Carr is spending the bulk of our money on proven skilled positions which could prove impossible to find in the draft. If we wait til the draft to address CB, every team drafting will know the Bengals are panting for a top 3 CB and that has draft day value.
BENGALS69 - February 21, 2012
well thats the thing, I think we know we can at least get Jenkins
AMAS85 - February 21, 2012
+1
Was thinking the exact same thing.
The_Black_Stripes - February 21, 2012
Brees has held out this long
Doubt he signs before FA begins. This is his one and only Mega Deal. Not that he hasn’t been paid -but was a 2nd round pick and then signed w/NO after being injured.
Has not got the truly elite payday of Manning/Brady – i think he wants it and is going to get it one way or another – just don’t think it will be in time for FA
TX Bengal - February 21, 2012
It's also been said that Nicks will demand more money than his teammate, Jahri Evans.
I’d be shocked to see him in stripes.
RHSNEYES - February 21, 2012
That would "only" require $8.5M-$9.0M per season, for 7 seasons.
That is actually pretty reasonable when you think about it.
Consider, if MB was willing to give a 4-year/$28M contract to Antonio Freaggin’ Bryant (Antonio Bryant for God’s sake!!!), why wouldn’t he even at least consider offering Nicks (who is the best player at his position in the entire NFL and still only 26 years old) a contract for only ~$1.5M more per season than he was willing to give Antonio Bryant.
Essentially, if you basically double the contract given to Antonio Bryant (in both years and value), then you are already in Jahri Evan’s ballpark. It is actually NOT entirely impossible.
Probably will not happen, but it would NOT be that shocking IMO.
Also, consider that this is Jay Gruden’s first full offseason on the coaching staff. I don’t think think this aspect should be over-looked. He would want some say in player personnel decisions, and Hobson wrote yesterday that he was been extensively studying the Saints offense. Nicks jumps out on tape, and I’m sure Jay notices. Jay would definitely let MB know who he’d like to target in FA.
I imagine that during the 10 years former offensive coodinator Bob Bratkowski was here, Bob’s tail was between his legs during team meetings discussing player acquisitions. For some reason, I just don’t see Brat “standing up to MB” like Gruden has already reportedly done (with the Dalton pick). Gruden is the antithesis of Brat. I think this angle is intriguing, and it’ll be interesting to see how much “pull” Gruden has in player personnel decisions. Again, remember that it was reported last year that MB wanted Mallett, yet Gruden persuaded him that A.D. was best for his offense. Much in the same light, if MB approaches Gruden and says, for example, “I think this Chilo Rachal guy offers us a very good option at guard, and he comes at a good price”, I hope Gruden works his magic and persuades MB to pony up for Big Carl. In that case, keep watching tape of the Saints, Gruden!!! Just a thought.
The_Black_Stripes - February 21, 2012
As long as one of the teams above us in the draft get him
We’ve got a better chance for Decastro
messjunk - February 21, 2012
Really, really crossing my fingers that march 5th comes and goes, and still no Brees extension.
Brees gets tagged, and Big Carl hits the market. I’m not saying the Bengals will sign him, but I want Carl to at least hit the market.
Btw, Jay Gruden has been extensively studying the Saints offense this year.
Nicks and Meachem anyone!?!?!!
The_Black_Stripes - February 21, 2012
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